Meet The Coaches

Stuart O'Connor - Head Coach

Stuart is a Level 4 Advanced Boxing Coach, a coach educator and an AIBA 3 star International coach. He is formerly the lead coach for England Elite Women and the national coach for Antigua and Barbuda. He is currently the head coach for the Royal Navy and Combined Services Boxing Associations. Stuart has decided to share his wealth of experience outside of the Naval Service. Qualified as a Coach Educator and Assessor, Stuart can teach and assess coaching courses up to and including Advanced Level 4. Click here for more information about Stuart.

Lucy O'Connor - Club Chairman and Coach

Lucy retired as an international boxer in 2012 having boxed for England/GB for 7 years. During her career she was the first ever British woman to win a European Gold Medal, she was ranked in the top 5 in the world at three different weights and selected as part of the Olympic preparation squad she captained the inaugural Great Britain Women's Boxing Team. Forced to depart the GB Squad on the grounds of ill health, Lucy had the honour to commentate for the BBC on the women's Olympic competition and now acts as one of their boxing analysts. Qualified as a Level 2 Coach in 2010 she has turned her hand to coaching and is currently under training to become a sports therapist. Click here for more about Lucy.

Dave McElwee - Club Coach

Dave has been a coach since 2001 and is currently a Level 3 Boxing Coach. As a former boxer he has been involved in the sport for over 20 years. Formerly head coach for the Naval Air Command, HMS Heron boxing teams, and head Coach for the Royal Navy Ladies Boxing team, he currently assists the Royal Navy Coach to deliver full time boxing training to the elite squad and has coached on a recent England versus Great Britain tournament. Dave has decided to expand outside the Navy and share his knowledge and experience in to encourage more people to get involved in the sport he loves. He offers his spare time between Poseidon and his local club in Leicester where his wife, Zoe, currently boxes.

Dave Bebbington - Elite Performance Coach

Dave is a master practitioner in neurolinguistic programming (NLP), an expert in coaching and leadership development and an Elite Performance Coach. He offers Poseidon an essential resource of a sport and social psychological practitioner. A Naval Officer, he has developed these skills over 30 years in the Service and has recently been appointed the elite performance coach for the Royal Navy Rugby League, the Royal Navy Rugby Union and the Royal Navy Football Association with whom he has engendered significant success. Dave agreed to join Team Poseidon to assist members (competitive and recreational) and coaches to develop socially and psychologically in order to achieve their full potential. Click here for more about Dave.

Lester Bevan - Club Coach

A former competitive boxer, Lester took over the reins of Eastleigh Boxing Club housed at The Hub. Eastleigh boxing club runs a fitness boxing session on a Monday night and when he is not there Lester is a key member of the Poseidon coaching team. An experienced Level 1 coach, Lester is a regular at Poseidon sessions and is wonderful at catering for all levels of ability and exprerience; whether it is fitness sessions or competitive skill development. His exceptionally talented son, Taylor, boxes for Poseidon and we hope they are both long term members of the Poseidon team.

Kirsty Rennie - Club Welfare Officer

Kirsty has always followed professional boxing and enjoys taking part in boxercise classes for her own health and fitness. Her two boys are now Poseidon members and as she spends so much time at the club with them she has taken the opportunity to support the club and learn to coach in order to assist the junior members. Kirsty's working background is with children so she has the skills to identify safe working practices and safeguarding and is best placed to be our Club Welfare Officer.

Dan Rush - Club Coach

Dan joined Poseidon as a boxer three years ago shortly after the club opened. Having reached the level of black belt and 1st Dan in martial arts he was looking for another challenge. Dan trains every day with Poseidon and on top of that he began helping to coach the junior members. He had a talent for coaching and he was soon welcomed into the coaching team having recently qualified as a level 1 coach. Dan also acts as our disability champion, helping to ensure we are a fully inclusive club.

Samantha Beer - Club Coach

Sam brought her two children, Rhys and Laurell, to Poseidon two years ago. Both are exceptionally talented sportspeople and Sam was not unfamiliar with ferrying them to sports clubs across the county. With Laurell being a former international gymnast and Rhys a budding footballer, they decided on a new challenge of boxing. Sam, as with many parents, patiently waited whilst both children took part in the sessions. Watching the sessions and learning about boxing, she decided on the 'can't beat them, join them' approach and we are delighted that she has recently qualified as a Level 1 boxing coach.

Joe Vaughan - Club Coach

Joe has spent much time in and around boxing clubs with his son George. Shortly after Poseidon opened, Joe brought George along to see what the new club was like and they have been members ever since. George has competed numerous times for Poseidon and Joe showed a great talent for coaching both junior and senior members of the club. Now qualified as a Level 1 coach, Joe is an integral part of the Poseidon coaching team and has a fantastic coaching style. He has encouraged his daughter Abigail to come along too so its a real family affair.

Dave Evans - Club Coach

Dave joined Poseidon as a member two years ago in order to improve his fitnessr in a fun environment. Taking an interest in the competitive side of the club he set himself the target of competing before he reached the compulsory retirement age in amateur boxing. He did so after some hard training he represented Poseidon at a Multinations championship in Denmark and at our home dinner show at the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl. Now retired from competitive boxing he has qualified as a Level 1 boxing coach and attends regularly with his sone Harry a budding boxing champion.

Grant Atkinson - Club Coach

Grant's son Joe trained with Poseidon ABC and has competed for the club on a number of occasions. A fan of watching boxing, Grant had little experience of amateur boxing or coaching himself. But as a regular gym goer he has a good knowledge of physcial training and wanted to get involved in the club and support his son. So without much boxing experience Grant began to help coach sessions and showed a great talent and a few months later qualified as a Level 1 boxing coach - a fantastic achievement and Grant is an integral part of the Poseidon coaching team.

Stephen Harrigan - Club Coach

Steve is a recent joiner at Poseidon having brought his son Max to the club for the first time. Max has a passion for boxing and Steve is one of the many parents 'dragged along'. He showed an interest in getting involved and helping to coach the juniors. He has a great eye for boxing and a wonderful way with the children. He has successfully passed the Level 1 England Boxing Coaching course and is a fantastic addition to the club.